Going Green Can Be Less Expensive Than

Here in the Tampa area both Tampa Electric and People's Gas offer rebates when you replace your existing equipment with more energy efficient equipment in your home.People's Gas also offers rebates and incentives to customers who upgrade their current equipment to more efficient versions.Most other utility companies throughout the country offer similar incentive programs. The rebates range from $100 to $250.Tax exclusionAny income from rebates for energy efficient conversions is excluded from taxable income. These are just a few of the programs and incentives that might be out there for you. The same goes for replacing your conventional pool heater with a solar pool heater, or installing a tankless solar water heater. This one expires at the end of 2008. The credit amount is determined as 10% of the cost of building envelope improvements and/or 10% of the cost of more efficient equipment, including water heaters, furnaces, windows, doors, roofs, air conditioners, circulating fans, building insulation, heating pumps and circulating fans. All of these are recommended measures for reaching maximum energy efficiency in your home. Finally, if you're building a new home, you may qualify for even more rebates and incentives.State Rebate ProgramIn addition to the tax rebate, you may also be eligible for a Florida rebate program if you install a solar hot water heater, solar pool heater or photovoltaic electricity cells before June 20, 2010. In addition, because a great deal of energy is lost when air seeps out of leaky ducts or broken seals, Tampa Electric offers home ductwork inspections for $79. The flat rate includes any repairs and the installation of one flexible duct up to 25 feet in length. If you refit your car to use an alternative to conventional gas or diesel, you can get a return of any tax that you paid on it.) Tax Credit for Energy ImprovementsYou can get up to $500 tax credit for making energy efficient improvements to your home, including repairs and remodels. If, for instance, you receive a $300 rebate from your gas company because you installed a new tankless water heater, you do not need to count that $300 into your taxable income. That's because the early adopter costs include development and deployment costs. Right now, alternative energy sources and the equipment needed to use them are in the early adopter stages, when costs are higher for all concerned. (Exclusions reduce the income on which you are taxed. Many of these are aimed at corporate taxpayers rather than residential ones, but there are some that offer incentives available to home owners. In addition, People's Gas also offers rebates to builders doing new construction, which can lower the cost of your home if you're building new. The products or systems that you can get a tax rebate or credit for include alternative energy cars, solar space heaters, solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, photovoltaic systems, refueling systems, ethanol and biodiesel. Learn more about builder rebates at People's Gas website, Builder Conservation Page.. The credit can be carried forth to succeeding years.Utilities Pitch In with RebatesIn nearly every area of the country, the major utilities offer some sort of rebate or other incentive to encourage their customers to move toward greener equipment.Find out more about Tampa Electric rebates at their Energy Plus website page. Check with your electric and gas providers to find out what rebates are available to help you with the expenses of going greener.Tampa Electric offers rebates when you replace your heat pump with one that works more efficiently. Renewable energy systems include any system that uses solar, wind or other renewable energy sources instead of more conventional power.